Hi so going through maintenance items. Valve cover gasket was removed and found RTV. I watched videos and read material. What I watched and read shows no use for silicone, asking if I’m missing something?
its 2001 sport 4.0 4x4. The jeep leaked a lot when I bought it few months ago, it would leave puddles. Now with progress we are down to 2 drops.

 

No the blue gaskets normally do not need any sealant on them. Make sure you get rid of any extra sealant on the mating surfaces of the head and the valve cover

 

Is your VC bolted back on or just placed over the valvetrain? Where there any spacers/grommets?

See the circles in yellow (only marked 3 places). This is where a spacer/grommet would go as part of the gasket to prevent over tightening.

 

I swear some folks grew up with an RTV everything mentality. As mention, the blue silicon rubber does its job well enough.

 

yes grommets were replaced. It was a pain to separate the grommets from metal sleeves

 

That looks like one of the nice Felpro gaskets. They are fantastic but that one is ruined. Toss it out and get a new one and as said above make sure you use the spacers to prevent crushing

 

Like Trailer.. said... but make sure you torque only to spec on them (which for the valve cover isn't very much) and do it in the correct pattern.